Ability Beyond’s Expertise

In 2005, Ability Beyond successfully closed its sheltered workshop and transitioned over 200 individuals into community based day and work opportunities. Our mission was simple: “Ability Beyond will transform day and work services into integrated, community-based services by providing people with options based on their individual preferences and abilities by…

In 2005, Ability Beyond successfully closed its sheltered workshop and transitioned over 200 individuals into community-based day and work opportunities.

In 2005, Ability Beyond successfully closed its sheltered workshop and transitioned over 200 individuals into community based day and work opportunities. Our mission was simple: “Ability Beyond will transform day and work services into integrated, community-based services by providing people with options based on their individual preferences and abilities by January 1, 2005”.

We developed a comprehensive and strategic plan that recognized and addressed challenges so that each of the people served, no matter how severe their disabilities, could become more fully integrated into their communities. What was crucial was that each and every one of the individuals was able to choose the life that provided the greatest level of dignity and independence.

Ability Beyond, a nationally recognized organization that for over 60 years, has led the field in serving people with disabilities in Connecticut and New York by providing person-centered, cutting–edge, and cost-effective services to people with a variety of challenges. With nearly 3,000 people benefiting from our services across two states, our size, scope, and experience motivate us to constantly utilize creative new technologies to develop innovative approaches to care for those in our programs. Our best practices, including consulting with providers closing their sheltered workshops, are nationally recognized, replicable and being adopted by organizations around the country. View history

The Change Acceleration Process

We were trained by GE on a very strategic form of business planning which we followed from Day 1, called the CAP Process. The Change Acceleration Process (CAP) is the process of moving the Current State of the Process/Service/Product to an Improved State by catalyzing (speeding up) the Transition. “CAP depends on Leading Change, Creating a Shared Need, Shaping a Vision, Mobilizing Commitment (Getting buy-in from Stakeholders), Making the Change Last and Monitoring Progress. All implementation projects require a Champion who sponsors the change if they are to be successful (Leading Change)”.

It is important that if your agency does not have a process to follow, to become knowledgeable on what already exists and it how it can be helpful towards leading your agency’s individual change. You can learn more about the GE CAP process here or on the Six Sigma Institute website.Visit website